CASUALTIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2556, 11 March 1903, Page 45

CASUALTIES.

A waggoner named Humphreys, 25 years of age, was killed near Seddon on the 3rd. The particulars of the affair r.re meagre, but it appears that in ascending v. hill the hors-es jibbed, and the waggon capsized, Humphreys being killed in the fall. Deceased was unmarried.

Walter Guy, an employee of Mr Short, met with a severe accident at the Burosido cattleyarda on the 3rd. He and another workman wcro carrying a heavy bluegum plank upon their shoulders, when Guy fell, and the plank coining down on his head r&ndered him unconscious. He. was brought into town by the 2.5 p.m. trayi and taken in th 3 ambulance to the Hospital, where it was found that he had received a sjight concussion of the brain. He i smaking satisfactory progress. " The body of the late Sarah M'Gregor, who is supposed to have wandored, or rather walked, uito the Kawarau River at Bannookburn. was found on the beach between Clyde and Alexandra on the 3rd met. Deceased was about 30 years of age. At the inquest the jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned," as there was not sufficient evidence to show how deceased got into the river.

Beatrice MacFarfcvne, aged three year?, residing with her parents at Thorndon quay, Wellington, fell into a tub containing boiling buds, and died shortly after removal to the hospital. .

William Andrew, 25, single, committed suicide at Kopuru. At the inquest a verdict of " Suicide from an overdose of strychnine while temporarily insane " was returned.

Information was received on Thursday that a young woman named Barclay died that day at Tapanui while undergoing an operation by Dr Robertson. The deceased was at the time under the influence of chloroform. At the inquest the jury found that the woman died from causes incidental to the malady from which she was suffering, together with the operation which was rendered necessary', and expressed the opinion that Dr Robert-son acted rightly under the circumstances and did everything in his power to 6ave her life.

John Gell, who was thrown from a trap at Hastings died from his injuries on Saturday. The accident was caused by the horse deceased was driving becoming startled r.t some butter boxes falling on him, and he bolted, Mr Gell being thrown out and the wheels of the cart passing over hia chest. When picked up life was instinct.

On I'ridav afternoon, when the representatives of the Wanganui Fire Brigade were practising the ladder and hose event on the Marine Parade a nasty accident occurred. Two of the 'te-am, named Sims and Halligan, were on the ladder, one half way up and the other near the top with the hose, when the water wiw turned on. The high pressure caused the man on top to lose control of the hose, with the result that it performed a number of vigorous antics, eventually becoming entangled in the ladder, whioh it precipitated into the middle, of the street with those who were on it. Both men were hurt by the- fall and the ladder striking them, and they were immediately sent to the Hospital, where ifc was ascertained the injuries were not so serious aa at first anticipated. At A c hburton the three-year-old son of Mr John Burgess died from burns eeeiyed rhroueh his flannelette nightdress catching fire. In the absence of his mother the child got out of his cot, and gointr too near the fire the nightdress ignited. The mother arrived in time to put out the flames, but the boy was burned so severely that he died five hours afterwards.

There is no improvement in th condition of the Port Chalmers "man, John Gregg, who was admitted to the. Hospital last week as the result of a fall in the graving dock.

Wiliam Stewart (50). a native of Scotland, was found in the bush near Swanston with his throat cut, but not dead. He asked for water, which was procured. A doctor vas sent for, but two minutes later Stewart expired. A razor and a pocket ksiife were found by his aid?. A boy named Thomas Griffin was drowned at Hamnden on Saturday: It appears that several lnd<? were bathing and boating in tie big Ktiri. Deceased was in the boat with several other lads, and diving from the boat rose to the surface, but immediately sank again, and as he appeared to be in trouble two sons of the Rev. W. Nichol jumped in to render assistance, but had to desist. Deceased's sister attempted to wade m to rescue him without success. The assistance of F. Gdanitz was obtained, r.nd he and Clarence Booth after some minutes managed to recover the body, but it was too late. All attempts at resuscitation failed. An inquest was held on Sunday. Mr W. Nicolson acting as coroner. The jury returned a verdict of accidentally drowned. Sympathy is generally felt with the parents in the sad circumstances. An old-ace pensioner named John Samuel Brown, aged 72 years, was found dead in his hut at Hindon on Sunday.